Landing gear for aeroplanes



Apr. 10, 1923.

. E. w; ROUNDS LANDING GEAR FOR AEROPLANES Filed Oct. 24, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 1 Apr. 10, 1923. 1,451,117

E. W. ROUNDS LANDING GEAR FOR AEROPLANES Filed oqt. 24, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patents Apr. W, 1923 D W. ROUNDS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. I

LANDING- GEAR FOR AEROPLANES.

Application filed October 24, 1921. Serial No. 510,186.

T 0 all whom itmay concern:

Be it known that I, 'EDWARD W. RoUNDs, a

citizen of the United States, residing at' for launching and receiving aeroplanes of i the usual land type from or on the deck of a ship. Needless to say, the deck space is limited and it is, therefore, necessary to provide means associated with the aeroplane, to bring the machine safely to rest in a relatively small space.

Such devices as means for reversing the propeller of the plane have been tested but such means is unsatisfactory inasmuch as control of the planes is lost assoon as the speed is decreased and the plane almost invariably turns to the right or left in such a way as to carry it past the available limits of the landing area.

It may be assumed, however, that if an aeroplane may be made to run straight after landlng there will be little'or no danger of running outside of the limits for landing. It is, therefore, the purpose of the present invention to provide an improved landing gear for aeroplanes of such simple and practical desi to cause them to continue in a straight line after landing and before com ing to'a position of rest.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the above character which will only very slightly increase the total Weight ofne and will not appreciably inthe mac crease the total air resistance of the plane.

A further object is to provide a reliable and efiicient mechanism which will be simple to operate and require no special training or abilit for .operatlon.

A rther object is to provide a mechanism of the above character which will not in any way interfere with the manoeuverability, mihtary characteristics or other qualities of the plane upon which it is inled.

Other objects will he in partobvious and in art hereinafter pointed out in connection it the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrating one of various possible embodiments of the present invention, and in the several figures of 'which similar reference characters denote corresponding arts.

Figure 1 is a side elevation 0 such parts of an aeroplane equipped with the present I invention as is necessary to fully understand the same.

Figure 2 is a plan View, certain parts being shown in section.

igure 3 is a detail view, partly in section, of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 1. Before describing the invention in detail, it is to be stated that the present device consists essentially in connecting two opposite wheels or airs of wheels together in such a Way that the right hand wheel or wheels are forced to rotate at the same angular velocity 7 as the left hand wheel or wheels. The wheels may be connected together in any desired way, such for example, as by means of the axle to which the are fastened, by gearing or shafts driven th b cable and chain connections combining a cfutch for throwing the wheels into'and out 0 ar.

' or easily handling the plane and in order not to strain the landing gear a clutch of any desired't pc is preferably provided between the wheels which may be thrown into and out of engagement by the pilot either from the cockplt'or from the ground. c

rough universal joints, or

l With this preferred embodiment in mind attention is directed to the accompanying sheets of drawings where A indicates a 01'- tion of the fuselage provided with landing struts B, and landing wheels C carried therethe wheels being provided with shock absorber cordsD, all ofWhi h-are of the usual type in aeroplane construction. The axle is preferably composed of two parts 1 and 1*,2 and 2, the parts-1 and 2 being connected by universal joint 30 and clutch 10) mechanism 5 and 6 between the, parts 2 and 2. Cross braces or struts 4, as shown in Figure 2, strengthen the landing gear and also provide support for bearings 3 and yoke 7 mounted upon a member ,8 connecting the struts 4. The yoke-7 is used to move the movable clutch member 6 into and out of operative engagement with the fixed clutch member 5. This clutch is thrown in and out through a system of levers and links indi- 1'10 cated by pull rod 9 connected with alever 10 mounted upon a transverse axle 11 shown in 7 Figure 3, which, in tur'n,is provided with a lever 12 connecting through link 13 to a hand lever 14. .This lever is within convenient reach of the pilot of the plane being pivoted at 1'5 and'coacting with a segment 16 having two notches 1 for holding the lever 14 in either on or ofi position.

The wheels are provided with hubs 18 made fast to the axle by means of the sleeve 19, rivets 24:, as well as the hub cap 21 with flange 20, bolts 22, and transverse pin 23,

the universal joints being fastened to the axles as shown.

Likewise the clutch members 5 and 6 are secured by transverse pins 26.

The construction herein shown is operated in substantially the following manner. The plane is first. taxied to a position for take-ofi' with the clutch in disengaged po-. sition as shown in'Figure 3 whereby both wheels are free to turn independently of each other. When the plane reaches its position v for take-0d, the clutch is preferabl thrown 25- into engagement thereby compel ing the wheels to revolve together at the same angular speed and cause the plane to run 1n a straight line. When landing, the fact that the wheels are locked together forces them to turn at the same rate. It is desirable, of course, to have equal air pressure in both tires on the Wheels and care should be taken to land as nearly'as possible on both wheels at the same time in order not, to require the transmision device to accelerate the wheel not touching. After the plane has come to rest the clutch is disengaged after which the plane maybe taxied easily in the usual manner.

Both thelandingand getaway operations are normal in every respect except that the plane is forced by the wheels toroll in a straight line.

- It will thus be seen from the above that the present invention provides a simple and practical mechanism adapted to lock the wheels of the landing gear whereby the machine is compelled'v-to run in a straight line during the landing or the getaway operations.

The construction shown may be easily and quickly applied to machines now in use without material alteration. Neither will the construction materially increase the weight or air resistance; nor afi'ect the other. meehanismsxand attachments,

Without further analysis, the foregoin will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that otherscan by'appl ing current knowledge readily adapt it {tr various applications without -omitting certain features that, from the standpoint;- of-the prior art, fairly constitute emential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and,therefore, such adaptations should an mmn be -w| PTfilllQl1d hm a plurality of parts, clutch members associated with said parts, and means for-throwinglthe clutch into and out of engagement at W1 3. In an aeroplane provided with landing,

wheels, in combination, an axle formed of a plurality of parts, clutch members associated with said parts, means for throwing the clutch into and out of, engagement at will, and means operable from the pilots seat for operating said clutch.

4. In an aeroplane provided with landing wheels, axles upon which said wheels are mounted, means for locking said wheels to the axle, and means for insuring the equal angular rotation of said wheels when desired and means for disconnecting said wheels from said axles whereby they may have a different angular rotation.

5. In an aeroplane provided with landing wheels, in combination, axles upon which said wheels are mounted, means for locking said wheels to the axle, and means for insuring the equal angular rotation of said wheels when desired and means fordisconnecting said wheels from said axles whereby they may have a difierent an lar rotation.

6. In an aero lane provide with landing wheels, in com ination, axles upon which I said wheels are mounted, means for locking said wheels to the axle and means for insuring the equal angular rotation of said wheels when desired, said means comprise ing a clutch member and means for throwing said. clutch into and out oft;

ay be allowed to ro- "dependently. p 7. tin an aeroplane provided with landin wheels, in combination, axles upon whic said wheels are mounted, means for locking ment said wheels to the axle, and meansfor .in-

suringthe ual angular rotation of said wheels when esired, said meanscompris'ing a clutch member, means for throwing said clutch'into and out of engagement, a lever operable 'from the pilots'seat and'intervem I ing mechanism between the lever and the" 'clutch for actuating the latter'whereby the wheels may rotate atdiderent angularl-ve locities.

Signed at Washington, District of Columbia, this 30th day of Sept, 1921.

nnwaan w. routine,- 1 

